Throwing this question out to Canadian locals..

[powderrecon]

Im originally from Seattle, however I am spending some time in Vancouver. Ran into an issue with my 96 VFR. I had fuel leaking onto the ground when the bike was running.

Took the bike to a local Vancouver shop, where he said its probably the float getting stuck. So i left the bike with him.

Next day I get a call from him, and he has fixed the problem. I guess there was some gunk build up in the front right carb and it had to be cleaned. While he had the carbs out, he spent more time and cleaned all four of them.

Next he decides to replace all of the spark plugs, and change the air filter on the bike.

Did I get a call before all this service was performed, asking for permission to do the work? No.

Cleaning all of the carbs, I can have some understanding for, however he still should have called, and said

"Hey, I pulled the carbs and found the problem, however I think it would be a good idea if we cleaned them all, taking this amount of time"

Am I dead wrong here?

Replacing the plugs and air filter? Whats up with that?

Of course I am going to bring this up with him, however just wanted to throw this out to the Vancouver peeps, to see how business is done north of the border.

I am frustrated that I get a $600 bill, for a job that should have taken two hours.

[chomper]

why do they do that! thats just wrong! only pay for the work you agreed to you never asked for new plugs. i just hate bringing any thing into a shop or worse a dealer. I try and do as much as possible my self to avoid being riped off. On the brite side at least they fixed the problam. I really dont think its just a Vancouver thing it just so happens thats were that shop is

[nitronorth]

In the auto industry its the law most places up here you have to approve first before they can collect..thats why they get you to sign the thing first...If you dont pre aprove..they cant make u pay legally, but then again there are those that will pull a fast one on you,sucker people into it, and no doubt it gets done a lot as most have no time to fight it and they have ur vehicle and u want to get out....given the time tho, they would loose....

just go back and firebomb them.. better yet..get it on every bike site on the web..names and details!....just be right tho..then let fly...

[Molsan]

Unless you signed something you shouldn't have to pay for the extra work, he should ask.
If he knew you where from out of town he may have done it as he figured you would just pay as you want to be on your way asap and would not contest it...and you can't give him a bad rap as you know few people there.

And shops wounder why people hate taking stuff in.

[squirrelman]

he may actually done you a favor to clean all the carbs while the thing was apart..... maybe.
excess fuel might have fouled the plug in that cylinder.
as for plugs and filter...only if they were bad should he have changed them, and he must in honesty show you the worn/bad parts he replaced.
let's ask you: how long had the plugs and filter been in use??

however, not ethical ever to replace parts before getting owner approval.

piracy still exists!!